It song was named the 88th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.
The song, written by guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, concerns the late lead singer of Mother Love Bone, Andrew Wood, who died of a heroin overdose in 1990. It is one of the band's most well-known songs.
This song first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1992 movie Singles, in which the members of Alice in Chains make a cameo appearance. It also appears on the Burnout Paradise soundtrack and most recently the Soundwave 2009 compilation, to promote their appearance at said festival in Australia. It was covered by Opeth, on their single "Burden", a song off their 2008 album Watershed.
Jerry Cantrell commented about the song,
“I was thinking a lot about Andrew Wood at the time. We always had a great time when we did hang out, much like Chris Cornell and I do. There was never really a serious moment or conversation, it was all fun. Andy was a hilarious guy, full of life and it was really sad to lose him. But I always hate people who judge the decisions others make. So it was also directed towards people who pass judgments. ”
Would?
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Teach thee on child, love of hereafter
Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way
Flying not yet, quite the notion
Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way
Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way
Am I wrong?
Have I run too far to get home?
Have I gone?
And left you here alone?
Am I wrong?
Have I run too far to get home? Yeah
Have I gone?
And left you here alone?
If I would, could you?
The lyrics of Alice in Chains's song Would? present a sense of confusion and regret. From the line "Know me broken by my master," it seems that the singer is reflecting on their own flaws and perhaps the way they have been shaped by their personal struggles. The following line, "Teach thee on child, love of hereafter," could suggest a desire to impart wisdom onto others, specifically to those who are still young and unacquainted with the harsh realities of life.
The chorus, repeating the lines "Into the flood again, same old trip it was back then, so I made a big mistake, try to see it once my way," suggest that the singer is reliving the same mistakes that they have made before. However, they acknowledge their mistake and seem to be trying to see things from a different perspective. The lines "Drifting body, it's sole desertion, flying not yet, quite the notion," create a vivid image of someone being lost or adrift, still trying to find their way in the world.
The final part of the song, where the singer questions whether they have gone too far to come back and whether they have left someone behind, adds a sense of melancholy to the song. The final lines, "If I would, could you?" almost suggest a plea for forgiveness or compassion. Overall, the lyrics of Would? are introspective, melancholic, and reflective of a personal struggle that the singer is going through.
Line by Line Meaning
Know me broken by my master
My experiences have left me feeling shattered and incomplete.
Teach thee on child, love of hereafter
I want to pass on the knowledge and love I have for what comes after this life to future generations.
Into the flood again
I find myself in a difficult, overwhelming situation again.
Same old trip it was back then
This situation feels like a repetitive cycle I've been through before.
So I made a big mistake
I made a significant error in judgement that has led to my current struggles.
Try to see it once my way
I hope others can understand my perspective and reasoning for my actions even if they disagree with them.
Drifting body, it's sole desertion
I feel disconnected and abandoned by my own physical self.
Flying not yet, quite the notion
Death and ascension to another realm is something I haven't experienced but have contemplated.
Am I wrong?
I think I might have made a mistake or poor decision.
Have I run too far to get home?
I fear that I have gone too far down a particular path to ever return to a sense of familiarity or comfort.
Have I gone?
I wonder if I've left behind or upset someone important to me in my pursuit of my own desires.
And left you here alone?
I fear that my actions have caused someone I care about to suffer or feel isolated.
If I would, could you?
If I changed my ways or my approach, would you still be willing to join me on this path?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joseromero7560
Lyrics:
Know me broken by my master
Teach thee on child, love of hereafter
Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way
Drifting body, it's sole desertion
Flying not yet, quite the notion
Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way
Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way
Am I wrong?
Have I run too far to get home?
Have I gone?
And left you here alone?
Am I wrong?
Have I run too far to get home? Yeah
Have I gone?
And left you here alone?
If I would, could you?
@communityprepper6153
In 1992 I woke up, going to the first day of my freshman year of high school. While eating breakfast this song came on MTV. I'm 45 now and I still remember this like yesterday. Time is terrifying.
@joshapples88
Watching music videos before school was my favorite thing. Even with sings that I didn't like sometimes had amusing videos. I was the last generation to appreciate this . I was 5 when this came out , loved this band
@davida.quinnsr.5869
Dig Up Dem Bones was a bad-ass album- I used to think Seattle Rock was uh not that good, but, it's actually bad-assed! Too bad most of the legends passed on, (I think the only Seattle Rock band that's still survivin' is Eddie Vedder, of Pearl Jam..)
@worthlessdegeneratescum
i turn 30 in august. time is very very terrifying indeed. i feel like it was just yesterday that i found out layne passed. i was 9 years old.
@itzapril5321
im 26 years old and its my first time listening to this lol
@Junior-fd8ux
@@itzapril5321 enjoy your 20s they go quick
@insight7549
1991 : This song is awesome
2020 : This song is still awesome
@swedisheinherjer
Legends never die!
@justinwilliams9262
2565 this song is still Awesome
@applesu8574
Yes Still awesome 😎